Drum for cooling or heating a product

Abstract

A cylindrical drum exchanges heat between a process fluid sprayed against its inner surface, and a raw product applied to its outer surface. The drum is formed by a thin cylindrical strip which is mounted on two disks. The strip is stiff enough to resist sagging under its own weight. The disks are of smaller diameter than an inner surface of the drum, and a hollow inflatable ring is interposed between each disk and the drum to frictionally connect the drum to the disks for common rotation and form a fluid seal for the ends of the drum. The drum can be removed longitudinally from the disks.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for exchanging heat between a process fluid and a raw product, comprising: a drum consisting of a single thin strip of endless loop shape defining a longitudinal axis about which said drum is rotatable, said strip being of sufficient stiffness along its length to resist sagging under its own weight,   said strip forming radially inner and outer surfaces, one of said surfaces adapted to receive said process fluid, and the other surface adapted to receive said raw product at a different temperature than said process fluid, so that heat is exchanged therebetween through said strip,     a pair of end disks disposed at opposite ends of said strip and positioned such that said strip and each end disk form therebetween a space extending in a lateral direction with reference to said axis, and   an inflatable hollow ring disposed in each of said spaces for mounting said strip to said disks in a manner transmitting rotation of said disks to said strip, and permitting said strip to be removed from said disks in a longitudinal direction.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said disks are situated inside of said strip such that each inflatable ring engages said inner surface of said strip and an outer surface of the respective disk. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each inflatable ring forms a fluid seal between said strip and a respective disk. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each inflatable ring is mounted on a respective disk and frictionally bears against said strip. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a stationary hollow axle extending along said longitudinal axis within said drum for conducting process fluid, and spraying means mounted fixedly on said tube for spraying process fluid against a portion of said inner surface. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said disks are rotably mounted on said axle. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said axle includes internal inlet and outlet passage means for conducting process fluid into said drum and for conducting process fluid out of said drum. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including an outlet tube extending downwardly from said axle and connected to said outlet passage means for removing process fluid from a bottom of said drum. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim 8 including means for pressurizing the inside of said drum for forcing process fluid through said outlet tube. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said raw product is applied to and removed from said outer surface of said strip at charging and delivery stations, there being a support disposed within said drum and arranged to bear against said inner surface of said strip at a location opposite at least one of said stations. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said strip and disks are of cylindrical shape. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus for exchanging heat between a process fluid and a raw product, comprising: a drum formed of a thin strip of endless loop shape defining a longitudinal axis about which said drum is rotatable, said strip being of sufficient stiffness along its length to resist sagging under its own weight,   said strip forming radially inner and outer surfaces, one of said surfaces adapted to receive said process fluid, and the other surface adapted to receive said raw product at a different temperature than said process fluid, so that heat is exchanged therebetween through said strip,     a pair of end disks disposed at opposite ends of said strip and positioned such that said strip and each end disk form therebetween a space extending in a lateral direction with reference to said axis, and   mounting means disposed in each of said spaces for mounting said strip to said disks in a manner transmitting rotation of said disks to said strip, and permitting said strip to be removed from said disks in a longitudinal direction,   said raw product being applied to and removed from said outer surface of said strip at charging and delivery stations, there being a support disposed within said drum and arranged to bear against said inner surface of said strip at a location opposite at least one of said stations.   
     
     
       13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said support comprises a roller rotatable about an axis extending parallel to said axis of said strip. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus for exchanging heat between a process fluid and a raw product, comprising: a drum formed by a circular cylindrical strip defining a longitudinal axis about which said drum is rotatable, said strip being of sufficient stiffness to resist sagging under its own weight,   said strip forming radially inner and outer cylindrical surfaces, said outer surface adapted to receive said raw product, and said inner surface adapted to receive said process fluid at a different temperature than said raw product so that heat is exchanged therebetween through said strip,     a pair of cylindrical disks disposed within said drum at opposite ends thereof, said inner surface of said strip being of larger diameter than an outer diameter of each disk, so that a radial space is disposed therebetween,   elastic mounting means mounted on each of said disks and compressed radially between said inner surface of said strip and said outer surface of its respective disk so as to frictionally engage said inner surface of said strip to connect said strip to said disks for common rotation, while permitting said strip to be longitudinally removed from said disks,   a stationary longitudinal axle extending along said axis, said axle forming internal inlet and outer passages,   said disks being rotatably mounted on said axle, and   spraying means mounted on said axle within said drum and being connected to said inlet passage for receiving process fluid and spraying said process fluid against said inner surface of said strip, said process fluid being removed from said drum through said outlet passage means,   said raw product being applied to, and removed from, said outer surface of said strip at charging and delivery stations, respectively, a support roller being mounted in said drum opposite at least one of said stations for engaging said inner surface and resisting deformation of said strip.   
     
     
       15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each elastic mounting means comprises a hollow inflatable ring. 
     
     
       16. Apparatus for exchanging heat between a process fluid and a raw product, comprising: a drum formed of a thin strip of endless loop shape defining a longitudinal axis about which said drum is rotatable, said strip being of sufficient stiffness along its length to resist sagging under its own weight,   said strip forming radially inner and outer surfaces, one of said surfaces adapted to receive said process fluid, and the other surface adapted to receive said raw product at a different temperature than said process fluid, so that heat is exchanged therebetween through said strip,     a pair of end disks disposed at opposite ends of said strip and positioned such that said strip and each disk form therebetween a space extending in a lateral direction with reference to said axis, and   mounting means disposed in each of said spaces for mounting said strip to said disks in a manner transmitting rotation of said disks to said strip, and permitting said strip to be removed from said disks in a longitudinal direction,   each mounting means comprising an inflatable hollow ring arranged coaxially with said axis of rotation, said disks disposed inside of said strip, and said rings being radially disposed between radially opposing surfaces of said strip and disks, each ring including a radially outer surface which is generally straight when said ring is viewed in cross section, each of said outer surfaces of said ring including longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending grooves.   
     
     
       17. Apparatus for exchanging heat between a process fluid and a raw product, comprising: a drum formed of a thin strip of endless loop shape defining a longitudinal axis abut which said drum is rotatable, said strip being of sufficient stiffness along its length to resist sagging under its own weight,   said strip forming radially inner and outer surfaces, one of said surfaces adapted to receive said process fluid, and the other surface adapted to receive said raw product at a different temperature than said process fluid, so that heat is exchanged therebetween through said strip,     a pair of end disks disposed at opposite ends of said strip and positioned such that said strip and each end disk form therebetween a space extending in a lateral direction with reference to said axis, and   mounting means disposed in each of said spaces for mounting said strip to said disks in a manner transmitting rotation of said disks to said strip, and permitting said strip to be removed from said disks in a longitudinal direction,   each mounting means comprising an inflatable hollow ring arranged coaxially with said axis of rotation, said disks disposed inside of said strip, and said rings being radially disposed between radially opposing surfaces of said strip and disks, each ring including a radially outer surface which is generally straight when said ring is viewed in cross section, each disk having a circumferential groove formed in its outer surface, a respective ring being mounted in said groove.